2025 Top 12 QBs and Wild Card Weekend Preview! (01/09 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Fantasy Football Today – "2025 Top 12 QBs and Wild Card Weekend Preview!"

Episode Details:

• Title: 2025 Top 12 QBs and Wild Card Weekend Preview!
• Release Date: January 9, 2025
• Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, Heath Cummings, Dan Schneier

---

Introduction

The episode kicks off with the hosts expressing excitement for the upcoming Wild Card Weekend and the influx of fantasy football action. Adam Aizer sets the stage by highlighting the anticipation around the playoffs, noting, “Wild Card weekend. A lot of bad games usually. But not this week. This. This year. It's going to be great. Every game” ([01:43]). The team emphasizes their commitment to providing listeners with comprehensive insights to dominate their fantasy leagues.

Wild Card Weekend Preview

The hosts delve into the specifics of the Wild Card matchups, offering both analysis and DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) strategies.

• Key Matchups:

  • Rams vs. Buccaneers: Discussed potential venue change to Arizona and expressed support for affected Los Angeles residents.
  • Player Status Updates:
    • Jalen Hurts remains in concussion protocol but shows optimism for weekend play.
    • Jordan Love is recovering from elbow soreness and is expected to participate.
    • Malik Willis faces uncertainty with a hand injury.
    • Zay Flowers is unlikely to play, shifting targets to players like Rashad Bateman and Mark Andrews.

• Notable Insights:

  • The Rams' defense, particularly Marshawn Lattimore, poses a significant challenge for fantasy managers. Heath remarks, “He’s grabbing and holding the entire time” ([08:16]), referencing Lattimore’s impact on opposing quarterbacks.
  • Dan highlights the importance of Joe Burrow’s receiving core, noting, “if they bring T. Higgins back, much easier to buy into Joe Burrow” ([07:37]).

Top 12 Quarterbacks for 2025

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to ranking the top 12 quarterbacks for the 2025 fantasy football season. Consensus among the hosts places Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen at the forefront, albeit in varying first and second positions.

• Top 5 Quarterbacks:

  1. Lamar Jackson ([10:06])

     • Praised for his ability to throw for over 4,000 yards and rush for nearly 900 yards annually.
     • Heath states, “Lamar Jackson continued to be at that same plane” ([11:35]).

  2. Josh Allen ([10:08])

     • Recognized for his consistent elite performance, despite some per-game stat fluctuations.
     • Jamie shares, “Josh Allen in the Buffalo home playoff opener four years in a row is unbelievable” ([12:17]).

  3. Jaden Daniels ([13:01])

     • Recently upended Joe Burrow and shows significant improvement, especially in passing efficiency.
     • Dan notes, “His final six games, 30.4 fantasy points per game” ([14:03]).

  4. Joe Burrow ([12:17])

     • Benefits from a strong receiving corps, particularly with potential returns of key players.
     • Dan highlights Burrow’s historical performance, “the number one quarterback in NFL history to go 40/40” ([16:11]).

  5. Jalen Hurts ([15:17])

     • Despite some setbacks, Hurts remains a top-five quarterback due to his dual-threat capabilities.
     • Heath comments, “...he brings up the back end of this group” ([17:27]).

• Additional Rankings:

  • 6. Baker Mayfield: Valued for his upside and potential breakout performances.
  • 7. Patrick Mahomes: Despite recent inconsistencies, Mahomes remains a high-value asset.
  • 8. Jared Goff: Recognized for his recent surge in performance and potential for explosive games.

Jamie adjusts his rankings during the discussion, moving Baker Mayfield above Patrick Mahomes, reflecting the dynamic nature of quarterback evaluations ([26:21]).

DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) Tips

The conversation transitions into actionable DFS strategies tailored for Wild Card Weekend, emphasizing the importance of understanding matchups and player performances.

• Lineup Construction:

  • Quarterback Stack: Heath suggests stacking Matthew Stafford with his receivers, citing favorable matchups and cost-effectiveness ([36:39]).
  • Running Back Strategy: Emphasis on high-value, low-cost running backs like Bucky Irving and Joe Mixon, especially against teams with weak run defenses.
  • Wide Receiver Selection: Focus on under-the-radar picks such as Jordan Addison and Jalen McMillan to maximize point potential while staying budget-friendly.

• Defensive Picks:

  • Chargers Defense: Favored for their ability to sack quarterbacks and force turnovers.
  • Ravens Defense: Highlighted for their recent strong performances and ability to limit opposing offenses.

• Tight End Considerations:

  • Mark Andrews: Continues to be a reliable option alongside cheaper alternatives like Will Disley and Tucker Kraft.

Heath provides a sample lineup:

“Fanduel. Also, it's Stafford at quarterback, Bucky Irving and J.K. Dobbins at running back, Puka, Nakua, Jordan Addison and Jalen McMillan at receiver, Mark Andrews at tight end, Eckler at flex, and the Chargers defense” ([50:22]).

Player Highlights and Strategies

• Rashad Bateman: Discussed as a high-potential receiver who could capitalize on increased targets.
• Zay Flowers: Absence shifts focus to other receivers, enhancing the value of backup options.
• Jalen McMillan: Recognized for his versatility and potential as a free agent space pick.

Dan emphasizes the unpredictability and importance of selecting players who can exploit specific defenses:

“Bateman is definitely a great play, without question, but I don't think he's as easy a play as McMillan” ([41:18]).

Final Thoughts and Game Picks

As the episode nears its conclusion, the hosts engage in a spirited discussion about game outcomes, highlighting key factors such as defensive matchups and player form.

• Game Predictions:
  • Bills vs. Broncos: Consensus to back the Broncos to cover despite Josh Allen’s historical playoff performances.
  • Rams vs. Vikings: A tight matchup with debates on whether the Rams’ offensive surge can overcome the Vikings’ stalwart defense.
  • Packers vs. Eagles: Favoring the Eagles to win, contingent on Jalen Hurts' participation.

Heath and Dan provide their picks with reasoning based on team dynamics and player capabilities:

“Pat Mahomes, hoping he can continue to lean on...” ([20:39]).

Conclusion

Wrapping up, the hosts reiterate the importance of staying informed and adaptable during the playoff season. They tease upcoming content, including detailed DFS stories and further player analysis, ensuring listeners are well-equipped to make strategic decisions in their fantasy leagues.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Adam Aizer ([01:43]): “Wild Card weekend. A lot of bad games usually. But not this week. This. This year. It's going to be great. Every game.”
• Jamie Eisenberg ([12:17]): “Josh Allen in the Buffalo home playoff opener four years in a row is unbelievable.”
• Dan Schneier ([14:03]): “He has to get to the Lamar Jackson level to pass him. And he could...”
• Heath Cummings ([17:27]): “He belongs in this group. But again, we were talking about him as a number one quarterback in some cases last year.”

---

Final Thoughts: This episode of Fantasy Football Today provides an in-depth analysis of the top quarterbacks for the 2025 season and offers strategic insights for navigating the Wild Card Weekend. Whether you're a seasoned fantasy manager or a newcomer, the hosts deliver valuable information to help you dominate your league and make informed DFS decisions.

Transcript

[Adam]

Where'd you get those shoes? Easy. They're from dsw. Because DSW has the exact right shoes for whatever you're into right now. You know, like the sneakers that make office hours feel like happy hour, the boots that turn grocery aisles into runways, and all the styles that show off the many sides of you, from daydreamer to multitasker and everything in between. Because you do it all in really great shoes. Find a shoe for every you at your DSW store or dsw.com attention sports enthusiasts.

[Dave]

Keep the adrenaline pumping and elevate your game day with Chumba Casino. It's completely free to play, no purchase necessary. Whether you're cheering from the stands, on the move or relaxing at home, Chumba Casino brings the thrill of social casino directly to your fingertips. Experience the ultimate social casino adventure with reels of casino style games. Offering hundreds of exciting options to choose from and fresh new releases every week. There's always something new and thrilling to explore. From action packed social slots and classic blackjack to engaging bingo and solitaire, the fun never stops. Plus, enjoy generous daily login bonuses and a fantastic free welcome bonus to kickstart your social gaming journey. Dive into the excitement. Discover a world where you can play for your chance to redeem some serious prizes and have a blast along the way. Don't miss out. What are you waiting for? Join now and immerse yourself in non stop fun and adventure with Chamba Casino. Get in on the action [e-mail] and make every day a Chamba Day. No purchase necessary. VGW Group void war prohibited by law 18/ DNC supply this is fantasy Football Today from CBS Sports.

[Jamie]

What a play. Can you believe this?

[Heath]

No, I can't.

[Dave]

It's time to dominate your fantasy league. Off to the races and he stays at his feet.

[Jamie]

This is going to go the distance. Now here's some combination of Adam, Dave, Jamie and Heath. Let's preview some games. Wild Card weekend is just around the corner. And college football too. A lot of great football action coming your way. Although to be honest with you. Spoiler alert. Wild Card weekend. A lot of bad games usually. But not this week. This. This year. It's going to be great. Every game. Welcome to Fantasy Football Today presented by BetMGM, the sportsbook born in Vegas. Adam, Dave and Jamie here breaking down the slate. We'll give you some DFS advice. We'll also give you our top 12 quarterbacks for 2025. This list is set in stone. It will not change. And if you have not voted Please vote for [e-mail] I'm only going to hit you over the head with this for a few more days because voting is almost done. Sports podcast group.com go to the best fantasy betting and gaming category after you hit vote now and vote for fantasy football today. And tell your friends, please, let's win it. And then you won't have to hear me say that ever again.

[Dan]

What could we do to incentivize people to vote for us at this point in the year?

[Heath]

Adam shaves his eyebrows, everyone.

[Jamie]

It's always shame.

[Dan]

I like it.

[Jamie]

I went back, we have to submit episodes for this award, this other award thing. And you don't have to vote for it. People. Don't worry. And I went back, I listened to the, the one where we were going to make a Miami UF bet. And Jamie's like, we're going to shave our heads. You just love to shave.

[Dan]

Jamie is always down to shave something.

[Heath]

I have. Well, first off, you mentioned the top 12 quarterbacks. We already talked about the top 25. I'm sorry, first round. All those stories will be on the site. The quarterbacks is already up. Running backs already up. Our top 12 running backs already up. Receivers will be done today. Tight ends maybe today as well. So you can see all [e-mail] I have a question for you guys because I had a very embarrassing moment this morning. So my, my 12 year old was late for middle school or we were going to be late for middle school and we literally lived two minutes from the school. So I said to him, because he didn't, he was late waking up. And I said, do you want to eat something? No. In the car, whatever. So I see we're gonna be late. We passed a Dunkin Donuts. So I said, all right, well, just, you're gonna be late. Let me just get you food. Anyway, so I drive through Dunkin Donuts. I realized as I'm about at the drive thru, I don't have my wallet. So I go there all the time. I said, oh, I'm so sorry. Can I, can I just come back and, and pay you quickly? She goes, do you have Apple Pass? And no. Usually have money on the app. Whatever. So she's like, sure, no problem. I was so embarrassed.

[Dan]

They let you buy on credit.

[Heath]

That's.

[Jamie]

Wow. What's embarrassing is that you go there enough with that. They did let you buy on credit.

[Dan]

Oh, it's Jamie Eisenberg from cb. He's here all the time. He always gets the double So I gave her, sure, come back later.

[Heath]

I gave her all the change that I had.

[Jamie]

Oh.

[Heath]

I said, I'll give you a down payment.

[Dan]

Oh, my gosh.

[Heath]

And so I said, I'll be back in 15 minutes. So obviously, I went back. I paid.

[Dan]

Well, I would hope.

[Heath]

Couldn't. Couldn't be nicer, but just. I can never leave.

[Dan]

I thought you were about to say they wouldn't let you pay, and you thought that that was dumb. And then we go back to the fantasy cops discussion that we had.

[Heath]

I think it would have been. It would have been if I was by myself. Oh, I don't. My. Well, I said, I'm just trying to get him food for. For school is, you know, can you help me out?

[Jamie]

It's very nice of them.

[Dan]

It's really, really nice of them, which means you're really, really nice of to. To them when you go and visit. So that's a testimonial to you also. Great to see it runs in the family that Ronan runs late.

[Jamie]

By the way, how do you not have Apple Pay?

[Heath]

You know, I'm old man.

[Jamie]

No, you should set that up. It's very easy. And this is perfect for these scenarios. In fact, you don't ever have to bring your wallet in if. If you. I leave my wallet in the car a lot and. And then I leave, and then I forget about it, and then someone takes that car or my wife would, like, take that car, and I'll be without a wallet. So that. So that's the bad side of Apple Pay. If you're me.

[Heath]

And also you yesterday, by the way. Speaking of annoyances, are we going to do a playoff challenge league? So I spent some time this morning setting one up for you and got two no's. And you. I'm indifferent.

[Jamie]

I said. I said, are you gonna set one up? You said, yes. And then you said, does anybody want to do it? I said, I'll do it if people want to do it. If not. I didn't do anything wrong. I'm not. I'm not taking any blame for this, okay?

[Heath]

I did it just for you. I'm already in three playoff challenge leagues. I don't need another one.

[Jamie]

Yeah, I don't either. All right, so what does Schneier say? Schneier said he's in different.

[Heath]

Agreed with me.

[Jamie]

He's different. Oh, he agreed with me, actually. Here are your news and notes. The Rams Buccaneers game could be moved to Arizona, and we want to send our thoughts out to everybody.

[Dan]

Vikings.

[Jamie]

Sorry. Yeah, Vikings, Rams game. Could be moved to Arizona. And we, again, now we want to send our thoughts out to everyone in Los Angeles. I know. Look, most people know someone who lives in Los Angeles, right? And we know people who are affected by this. So it's just awful. And I'm hoping for the best for everybody. I'm so sorry, but for everything that you're going through. Jalen Hurts and Jordan Love both making progress. Jalen hurts still in the concussion protocol, but as I said yesterday, optimism that he'll be able to play this weekend. And Jordan Love still has elbow soreness, but we expect him to play. And backup quarterback Malik Willis has a hand injury. Don't know if he'll be able to play. Zay Flowers is unlikely to play. We saw a big spike in targets from Rashad Bateman. Rashad Bateman had eight targets last week. He had eight targets three times this season. He caught a touchdown in all three games. He'll play Pittsburgh this week. Mark Andrews also had a spike in targets last week. So this is very relevant for dfs. Of course, Gus Edwards was limited. Quentin Johnston missed practice with an illness and a thigh injury. I think we expect Johnston to go, but not necessarily Josh Palmer. And last week, huge jump in targets for Quentin Johnson. With Palmer getting hurt, Tampa Bay could have safety Antoine Winfield back and tight end Kate Otten. They are facing Washington and, oh, we get. We are probably going to get Marshawn Lattimore vs. Mike Evans. Isn't that cool, Dave?

[Dan]

It is. It means you can't use Mike Evans in dfs.

[Jamie]

It probably means that, right?

[Dan]

I don't think it's cool, by the way. I just. I think it'll be interesting. And it probably means that Mike Evans won't have a big game.

[Jamie]

I think it's pretty cool to see if. If Lattimore can. Can contain him.

[Dan]

I mean, the one other thing is, the last time we saw Marshawn Lattimore play, he was like a vending machine for penalties.

[Jamie]

He was, you throw the ball near.

[Dan]

Him, out comes a yellow flag in your favor.

[Jamie]

And I went back and I watched. You're talking about the game against the Eagles. I went back and I watched him shadowing A.J. brown. And he started off horribly against A.J. brown. He just got crushed. But he actually started playing a lot better.

[Heath]

No, he was grabbing and holding the entire time.

[Jamie]

Okay. Yeah, but that's. That's. That's. You know what? That doesn't help my fantasy stats.

[Heath]

Well, that is 100 true. But. But to say that he played better, he had a terrible game as they.

[Jamie]

I watched the tape as the, as the game went on. I will stand by that. He played better because he started off awful against A.J. brown. He's. He did better. It's a tough task shadowing A.J. brown.

[Heath]

It also was without Jalen Hurts. Keep that in mind too.

[Jamie]

That is definitely true. And San Francisco working to extend Brock Purdy and they say they're going to bring back Debo Samuel. Pretty interesting.

[Dan]

And they also might get Robert Salah to coordinate their defense.

[Jamie]

It makes sense, right?

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Jamie]

And they're going to release Javon Hargrave. Okay. And. And. All right, well, that's fine with the notes. Okay. If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, please do so and use the bonus code Fantasy when you sign up. You're gonna get up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM. So here's how it works. Download the BetMGM app and sign up and use that bonus code Fantasy. Deposit at least $10 and place your first wager on any game and you'll receive up to fifteen hundred dollars in bonus bets if your bet loses. Just make sure that you use the bonus code Fantasy when you sign up. All right, top 12 quarterbacks for 20, 25. Who's got Josh Allen number one? Who's got Lamar Jackson number one?

[Heath]

Lamar's number one for me.

[Dan]

Me too.

[Jamie]

Okay. I went with Josh Allen.

[Heath]

Do you want anybody else's but ours? Because I'll queue it up.

[Jamie]

Not really.

[Heath]

Okay.

[Jamie]

Unless you see something crazy.

[Dan]

Unless you do. Is there anybody that put like Daniels or Burrow or Hertz or Mahomes?

[Heath]

I can just tell you the. The number one split.

[Jamie]

So give me the ones and twos. Is everybody Alan Jackson in some order?

[Heath]

Everybody's Alan Jackson.

[Dan]

Jackson.

[Heath]

So Jackson for me, Jackson for Dave, Allen for Heath, Allen for you, Jackson for Dan and Jackson for Jacob. Those are the only people we have ranked.

[Jamie]

Okay.

[Heath]

And everybody's one, two in that. In that. Those two guys.

[Jamie]

All right, well, give me 10 seconds on why you went with Jackson. I'll just say for me it's just the consistency. I think it's five straight years being an elite quarterback for. For Josh Allen. And you know, unfortunately his per game averages are hurt by playing one snap, so I'm not even counting that. Yeah, but. Yeah, it just, just every single year he's this good. Okay, why Dave for you, 10 seconds on Jackson.

[Dan]

Just because he showed that he improved as a passer. He's coming off of a year where he had Career highs and attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, yards per attempt, a dot and sac rate. He's playing at a super high level. I expect the receiving core to get even better and I think he can challenge Josh Allen and that. That consecutive streak that Allen's put together.

[Heath]

I think Allen's hit the point where most quarterbacks get to and I don't think Lamar Jackson will ever get there. Of the running is slowing down a little bit and he's still getting the rushing touchdowns. LaMar Jackson's the first quarterback ever with 4800, and I don't know if that is, you know, barring injury is something that will change. Like he's got that in his bag every time he wants to do it. He can throw for over 4,000 yards. He could rush for over 900 yards. And he certainly has 40 touchdown potential. Certainly 40 total touchdown potential. So while he doesn't get the same rushing touchdowns as Josh Allen, I think we'll see Allen continue to sort of scale back how much he runs and Lamar Jackson continued to be at that same plane.

[Jamie]

I just want to give you a Josh Allen stat for DFS for later. You know what, actually I'm going to take some time and actually calculate the fantasy points because I don't have playoff fantasy points. But Josh Allen in the Buffalo home playoff opener four years in a row is unbelievable. So I'll give you that. Those numbers when I calculate the actual fantasy points.

[Heath]

I think he actually will have to be in this game just based on how Denver plays. Like this could be a game where he runs a lot.

[Jamie]

Yeah. All right, so if 1 and 2 are Allen and Jackson in some order are 3, 4 and 5. Burrow, Hertz, Daniels for everyone.

[Dan]

In some order.

[Jamie]

Yes, some order. Yeah.

[Heath]

Yeah. Let's see if anybody was different.

[Jamie]

Just try to talk into the mic. When you do that, we lose you.

[Heath]

Yeah, sorry. I don't need to look at Dave's. Heath was Alan Jackson, Hertz Daniels, burrow. Dan was yep. Same and Jacob same. Yep.

[Jamie]

Okay, so we have a consensus top five in a different in different orders. But for me it was BURROW Hertz, Daniels six point per Passion Touchdown Leagues. Burrow would probably be fourth and four point Dave. How'd you see those three?

[Dan]

I have Daniels at the top of those three. Averaged almost 24 fantasy points per game. His final six games, 30.4 fantasy points per game. That includes the dud in week 18. You take that out and it's 35.6. So it's a little bit of what we saw from Lamar Jackson in 2023. Remember how Lamar finished 2023 red hot over 30 fantasy points per game, and he carried that into 2024. Assuming everything stays the same, if not even his receiving core is improved, his offensive line gets a little bit better. I wonder if Jaden Daniels can do the exact same thing. Joe Burrow. I. I do have questions about what his receiving core will look like. He was obviously better in games with T. Higgins. 27.8 fantasy points per game. He averaged 27 for the season, but he was 25 fantasy points per game in five games without T. Higgins. If they bring T. Higgins back, much easier to buy into Joe Burrow. And they also have to pay Jamar Chase. No hold out there. That would obviously hurt Joe Burrow. He needs to have that receiving core because he can't do with his legs what other quarterbacks can do with theirs. Jalen Hurts averaged 23 fantasy points per game on the year. He started off pretty strong. 25.6 fantasy points per game in his first nine and then 23.1 in his last five, not including week 16 in seven games where Saquon went off, call it 20 PPR points. Hertz had over 20 fantasy points in just three. So there was definitely an effect of Saquon Barkley when he was great. Jalen Hurts wasn't a lock to do it. And so Hertz, even with all that rushing upside, I'm a little bit hesitant to put him anywhere higher than fifth for now.

[Jamie]

All right, Jamie, how did you do three through five?

[Heath]

I have Burrow three, Daniels four, Hertz five. I think for the most part, everybody has Hertz five. If I'm not mistaken, I can confirm I have four it for me. And obviously the receiving core will be, you know, taken into account once we finalize these rankings, because I don't think it's just Burrow losing. It's Daniels potentially getting, and it might be the same guy. You know, Teagans may go to Washington, which would be amazing for Daniels, and obviously a little bit of a downturn for Burrow. What Burrow accomplished this year, he would have been the MVP if they made the playoffs. You know, he's the third quarterback in NFL history to go 4040 and less than 10 interceptions. The other two guys that did it won the MVP, and that was Tom Brady in 2007 and Aaron Rodgers in 2011. So could he continue to play at this level? Absolutely. He did it behind an offensive line that wasn't great. This year. He did it with T. Higgins in and out of the lineup. Obviously, Jamar Chase having a historic season, first receiver ever with 1700 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns is a big part of that. And I do think this will be a conversation for down the road if they keep Mike Gasecki, does he become one of the best values at tight end? Because we saw what he was like when T. Higgins was not there, just an absolute, you know, monster. So. And it might not be him. It could be Eric all, you know, the Titan that they drafted this year, you know, so. So there could be some value there. And it's not just, you know, Jermaine Burton or Andre Yeshivas who could be the benefactor of T. Higgins leaving. So, yeah, those two guys are almost interchangeable for me. You know, Daniel's going in our. In our mock draft that we did ahead of Burrow. I have no problem with that. I have no problem with anybody ranking Daniels ahead of Burrow. I just feel right now, Burrow, the year that he just had, Daniels would have to get to the. The Lamar Jackson level to pass him. And he could, you know, he was second in rushing yards of the position, 3,500 passing yards could easily become 4,000. So he's got that in his bag also. So I think all five of those guys with unfortunately, Hertz, you know, trending in the wrong direction as. As the fifth quarterback, but he brings up the back end of this group, you know, just because of what he does with the tush push.

[Jamie]

Yeah. I don't know if I agree that Jalen Hurts is trending in the wrong direction. He had a terrific year. And again, he's another guy whose per game averages look worse because he only played just a little bit against Washington before leaving with the concussion. He scored 4.5 fantasy points in that game, but I actually had him ahead of Daniels. I guess I was the only one. And it's just because I look at C.J. stroud and Anthony Richardson from last year, and obviously Daniels had a better fantasy season than those guys, but I don't know that he played better than C.J. stroud. I mean, C.J. stroud is a different kind of quarterback, but the rookie year Stroud had was unbelievable. Just as a pocket passer, the few interceptions that he threw, he just looked like a rising star. And sometimes guys have hiccups in their second season, and Baker Mayfield comes to mind. So I obviously have no objection to people taking Daniels third, but I had him fifth just because I, you know, Jalen Hurts every single year now is. Is just a consistent fantasy contributor and, And a Standout. So I went burrow, burrow Hertz. This six pointer pass burrow hurts Daniels.

[Heath]

Yeah, I don't disagree with what you're saying. The reason I said he's going the wrong direction comparatively, I think just where he has been and Dave brought it up. It's really the addition of Saquon Barkley. You know, there's, there's a difference. There's a difference maker in the backfield that he hasn't had to deal with before. So, you know, that hurt him a few times this season, you know, and we talked about it. The past attempts went down, you know, throughout the course of the year. So that's why again, he's still a top five quarterback. I don't mean to make the, make this the, that he's not going to be a top five quarterback. He belongs in this group. But again, we were talking about him as a number one quarterback in some cases last year. I think they've had him ranked number one preseason. So I did, you know, he's, he's just taken a little bit of a step back by comparison. And, and the one thing to your point about the rookies from previous years falling off his legs give him, I think, a better floor than what C.J. stroud had to fall back on. And you know, his passing is certainly better than Anthony Richardson's. You know, Richardson really didn't have enough of a sample size. So by, you know, the Baker. Com. The Baker comparison, the, the Stroud comparison, if you want to just, you know, you know, go the other route too. Justin Herbert was pretty good in his rookie season and followed that up with a big year or two.

[Jamie]

Oh yeah.

[Dan]

So the other thing I'll say is I don't think Jalen Hurts is going in the wrong direction. I think that there are just other quarterbacks that are going in the right direction.

[Heath]

Yeah, I just don't know if he has that 28 point per game.

[Dan]

Right. So he had that once. He had that in 2022. In 2021, 2023, 2024. He averaged anywhere from 22 to 24 fantasy points per game. That's six point per passing, touchdown leagues. That's good. Good. That's good. That's really good. And he had like spurts in each of the past two years where he was over 25 fantasy points per game. It's putting it all together and playing at a high level for a full season, which is what he did in 22. I don't know if he can do that for a full year again. As long as Saquon Barkley's there. That's why he's fifth. And he might. There's a chance I could move him down from five because other quarterbacks could just be in a better spot where they can be a little bit more consistent and a lot more explosive. You could make the case for Baker Mayfield to go ahead of Jalen Hurts. As silly as that sounds, I'm not doing it.

[Jamie]

You can make the case for it. Yeah. All right, well, you can have it. We have.

[Heath]

Actually, one of the. One of the people who participate in this did not rank Baker Mayfield as a top 12 quarterback.

[Jamie]

Oh, wow. Okay. I. That was Jacob, right?

[Heath]

I mean, I'll make you read the story to finish.

[Jamie]

All right, we'll be right back after this break on Fantasy Football Today.

[Adam]

Yeah, sure thing. Hey, you saw that car yet?

[Dave]

Yeah, sold it to Carvana.

[Adam]

Oh, I thought you were selling to that guy.

[Dave]

The guy who wanted to pay me in foreign currency, no interest, over 36 months.

[Dan]

Yeah, no.

[Dave]

Carvana gave me an offer in minutes, picked it up, and paid me on the spot.

[Jamie]

It was so convenient. Just like that. Yep.

[Adam]

No hassle?

[Dan]

None.

[Adam]

That is super convenient. Sell your car to Carvana and swap Hassle for convenience. Pickup fees may apply. If you have health insurance, you might be able to see a personal dietitian for $0 out of pocket. Nourish connects you with a dietitian that fits your needs covered by your insurance. Nourish accepts hundreds of insurance plans, and 94% of patients pay $0 out of pocket. Meet with your dietitian online and message them anytime through the Nourish app. With hundreds of five star reviews from real patients, you know you're in good hands. Find your [e-mail] that's usenourish.com so two.

[Heath]

People did not have Baker Mayfield.

[Jamie]

Top Schneier. Wow. So I have no idea. So top 12 quarterbacks. We're back here talking about this, and then we'll do dfs after. The top five were the same names in a different order. Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen were one and two in some order. And then Jaden Daniels, Joe Burrow, jalen hurts were 3, 4, 5 in some order for everybody who's ranking. Okay, now it gets interesting. Who's six for you guys?

[Dan]

I have Baker.

[Heath]

I think I have Baker, too.

[Dan]

And again, a lot can change. We're talking about our rankings in January. We don't know what his receiving core will look like. Can you bank on Jalen McMillan continuing his breakout from the last five games, is Chris Godwin going to be there? Is he gone? Is Mike Evans going to fall off? Who's his offensive coordinator? What's the offensive line look like? Can Baker Mayfield play well in his age 30 season? There's a lot to doubt with Baker Mayfield. You can make the case against him, but once I'm past those first five quarterbacks, I'm pretty sure I'm going to commit to upside, and it's going to be getting a quarterback with upside well past, like, round six in my draft. And so I need to just keep finding quarterbacks that have sky high upside. This dude had it. He averaged over 26 points per game. First time in a maybe ever that he's averaged that much in a fantasy league. He averaged over 28.

[Heath]

Oh, it's the first time ever doing that. Yeah.

[Dan]

28 or more with Godwin and Evans for seven games. And he averaged 31.5 fantasy points per game during Jaylen McMillan's breakout. Obviously, Mike Evans played. Those are the final five games of the year. You can even point to the three games where he didn't have Godwins, didn't have Evans. Jalen McMillan wasn't a thing yet. It was weeks eight through 10. He averaged 20.4. That's not far off from where Patrick Mahomes has been each of the last two years. Now, I don't want to draft this guy sixth and get that. That's a problem for me. But I also don't think that that's where he'll live if things generally stay the same in Tampa. And he's given this carte blanche to keep throwing to explosive receiving core, like we saw at the beginning of the year when God was healthy and at the end of the year when Jalen McMillan stepped up.

[Jamie]

And Jamie, you also have Baker Mayfield. So who's seven for you guys?

[Heath]

I think there are. There are three guys that qualify for the next three spots for me, and it's Baker Mayfield, it's Jared Goff, and it's Patrick Mahomes. And Mahomes is the tricky one because as Dave just alluded to, you know, he hasn't been great, as we know, as a fantasy quarterback the last two seasons. But I think you got to kind of look at the pockets of some of his performances, and you look at the playoffs last year, and you look at what started to happen in the back half of this season, really culminating in the final two games with how he performed in weeks 16 and 17, not playing in week 18. And so they Got faster and that's a big part. I think what's been missing from this offense is having multiple players who can make plays down the field, opening up the middle of the field for Kelsey. If he does come back, you know, it's still something we have to keep an eye on. But Goff has shown the ability in this offense, and this is a big part because Ben Johnson is gone after the season, most likely. So does everything stay the same? This offensive line is a big, big contributor to what the Lions do in every facet and obviously helping Jared Goff because he's one of the least mobile quarterbacks in the league. So does that continue to stay the same? Hopefully, that's the case. Jameson Williams has emerged as a legitimate NFL wide receiver and that's opened up this offense as well. Sam laporto's come on in the second half and obviously I'm on Ross St. Brown is one of the best receivers in the game, so he's got the receiving core. He should still have the same system in place. And obviously, if he's getting protected, there's a lot to love about what Jared Goff has shown. And then when you look at, you know, Mahomes, for example, you just got to hope that the offensive line gets a little bit better and, you know, he continues just to, you know, lean on. Gets Rice for a full season. That'll be huge.

[Jamie]

I am going to make a change in my rankings, so. Well, let's do six through eight.

[Heath]

I have to change the story now.

[Jamie]

It just. Can I just change one ranking or.

[Heath]

No, I'll tell you what, you can. You can talk to Dan and have him change it for you.

[Jamie]

Okay? It's just. I'm going to put Baker ahead of my homes because I went Mahomes. Baker Golf at 6, 7, 8. And what's your order?

[Heath]

Jamie Baker, Baker golf momes and Dave.

[Dan]

What's funny is you.

[Heath]

You're.

[Dan]

You might change that seven times between now and August.

[Jamie]

I take the over. Yeah. So I. I don't know. I don't know. I can't really justify. I do like Xavier Worthy a lot. I think he's going to be good, but I don't love Kelsey that much if he's back. I just. Like, it's obvious he can't do anything after the Catch really anymore.

[Dan]

Right.

[Jamie]

But.

[Heath]

But if a healthy, loving, loving Kelsey and Kelsey helping Mahomes can be two separate. Separate.

[Jamie]

Yeah, I know, but. And Rashee Rice, like, if she. Rice. You heard me voice my concerns about Rashee Rice yesterday. And what he'll be when he comes back. But it does look like it could be a good receiving core. I also just think they ran, they had so many running back rushing touchdowns that could have been Mahomes touchdowns. But, but I can't see a justification right now in a six point per passing touchdown league for putting Mahomes over Mayfield because Mayfield actually Mayfield rushed for 378 yards. Now that is a number that's probably going to come down. It's the first time he's rushed for more than like 11 yards per game. He rushed for over 20 yards per game. But if he's in the 15 yards per game he's still going to be like around Mahomes there. So I'm going to go Baker at 6, Mahomes 7, Goff 8. And Dave, what's your order?

[Dan]

That's my order. Baker, Mahomes, Goff. And I hate betting against Jared Goff. Average 23.4 fantasy points per game. He averaged actually 25.5 from week four. And remember that slow start that he had just, I mean the Lions didn't start slow but he did. His numbers weren't great. And then from week four on he, he had more games where he caught fire than not six games with over 30 fantasy points in six point per passing touchdown leagues. That's pretty good. Hard to ignore that. Could he do more of that next year? What would it take for that to happen? I, I don't know. I don't, I don't think that there's a chance that he does better than that next year when the running game is still going to be a focal point of, of their offense.

[Jamie]

Yeah. Jared Goff is the number seven quarterback per game this year, which just sounds crazy considering how good of a year he had. But 56 rushing yards, no touchdowns, that's just gives him a ceiling. All right, so if we have, we the three of us have the same top eight, the top five that we talked about and then in some order, Baker, golf, Mahomes. All right, so let's do nine and ten. Jamie, who's nine and ten for you?

[Heath]

Nine for me is Kyler, ten is Brock Purdy.

[Dan]

Nine for me is Caleb Williams and ten is Justin Herbert. This is very much in pencil.

[Jamie]

Wait a second. Jamie, who was it? Nine. Was who?

[Heath]

Kyler Murray is nine, Brock Purdy is ten.

[Jamie]

Okay, that's ten and eleven for me. David, who is it for you?

[Dan]

Caleb Williams at 9, Justin Herbert at 10.

[Jamie]

Wow. Okay for me it's Sam Darnold. 9 Kyler Murray 10. Well, interesting. Anybody have strong conviction about one of those guys being number nine or ten for you?

[Heath]

So Dave said something earlier in regards to Baker about drafting for upside of the position. And when I think of upside at the position, two guys that we haven't talked about yet come to mind is Kyler Murray and Anthony Richardson. And they have as much upside as any quarterback as we've seen, I guess probably Caleb Williams. Those three. Darnold is the toughest one to rank because we don't know what's going to happen with him. We don't know what's happening with McCarthy. It could be a situation where if they bring both back to Minnesota, one maybe on the franchise tag as opposed to a long term deal for Darnold and He struggles. Does McCarthy, if he's healthy, get in there and takes over the job? If they commit to Darnold long term, does he turn into Sam Darnold again? Despite the fact of, you know, great coaching of Kevin O'Connell, as we saw in the game against the Lions, he was miserable. So we saw the highs of Sam Darnold. You know, he's just so hard to rank. Purdy's had a very good fantasy season, but again, we know what the ups and downs are with him and what this team's going to look like because there's a lot of changes, most likely coming to San Francisco and then. But again, just in terms of upside, it's hard to overlook, you know, the, the spikes of performances from Kyler Murray in his career and the spikes of Anthony Richardson over the last two years. So for me, I feel much more safer about Kyler. I think he had a few struggles. I'd like to see what this offseason looks like for the Cardinals and what they do, but I'm still a believer in his talent. And so once we get past those eight guys, which I think are going to be locked in for a lot of people, to me, Kyler is the next guy off the board.

[Jamie]

Okay. And Dave, with Caleb Williams up there, you know, it's funny, Caleb Williams, if you look at total yards accounted for, he and Bo Nix were about even. It's just touchdowns were a huge difference there. So you said you had Caleb nine, right?

[Dan]

I do. Don't love it. But it's based on the hope that the Bears get it right with their new coach slash offensive coordinator and their offensive line. I, I think the biggest, the biggest problem that Caleb Williams had was that he was holding the ball too long. And there were times where it was because of indecisiveness on his part and because of play design on the coaching staff's part. There were a lot of plays where they only needed to get like five, six, seven yards. And all three of the receivers that we know were running 12 plus yards downfield. It was ridiculous. So he needs a better play designer. I'd love it to be Ben Johnson worried that it could be somebody who's not even the head coach. Like, say they get somebody like Variable or Brian Flores to be the head coach. They get some O.C. or someone who's like a quarterback coach now to be the oc and it just continues to be a mess there. That would make me stay away. If they don't. If they don't keep Keelan, Keenan Allen, they'll have to replace him. How they replace him will matter. What their run game looks like will matter. But this is still a guy who can make a bunch of plays off schedule. And if that is meshed with a good play designer, good offense, good O line, I could see that guy taking a step in his second season and I'd want to bank on that upside.

[Jamie]

All right, who are QB's 10 and 11 for you. Dave, you can start.

[Dan]

10 is Justin Herbert. And I've got. I. I did this before Tyreek Hill was going bonkers.

[Jamie]

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. 11 and 12. 11 and so.

[Dan]

Okay. Yeah, so tennis Herbert. We didn't really talk about him, but you know what could happen to that receiving core that could just absolutely set him on fire? Tua Tongue of Ilo at 11, Sam Darnold at 12. Also very much in pencil. Could very easily be Brock Purdy. Could be Jordan Love, could be Kyler Murray. Could be a bunch of guys that fall into that. That spot. Could be J.J. mcCarthy, Jamie, a lot of names.

[Jamie]

Who's 11 and 12 for you?

[Heath]

11 for me is Darnold, and 12 is Caleb Williams.

[Jamie]

Okay, so nine through 12 for me are. Are Darnold, Kyler Purdy, Bo Nix. I guess I was the only one who had Bo Nicks in the top 12.

[Heath]

Three of us, yes. Other colleagues have. And a few of our colleagues have Drake May in the top 12.

[Dan]

Yeah, sure, I see it.

[Jamie]

And Caleb Williams is right there as well. And yeah, I think. I think Purdy's gonna have a. I was really encouraged by what I saw from purdy with the 323 rushing yards and 15 games. That's. I think that's just going to be a part of his game. He likes to do it. He looked good doing it.

[Heath]

And I think it depends on what McCaffrey status is too because most of his rushing came pre McCaffrey coming back.

[Jamie]

Well, his whole season was basically without McCaffrey.

[Dan]

True.

[Heath]

But I mean the four games that McCaffrey played, he didn't run very much.

[Jamie]

Well, he's not, it's not designed runs though.

[Heath]

Yeah, I agree, but I'm just saying.

[Jamie]

Like he didn't run.

[Dan]

But I'm not drafting Brock Purdy for his rushing.

[Jamie]

No, but it helps, you know, to be, to have the potential to be a 300 yard rusher. That's a big deal.

[Heath]

And I think if, if Ayuka's healthy at some point, you know, early in the season because he'll be back hopefully by mid season. Latest. Depending what happens, Debo, you might have a much more diverse receiving core than they've ever had with Jennings. Yeah, for sure.

[Dan]

Deep. For sure. And that'll help because I don't, I don't want him. One of my arguments to take Brock Purdy should not be well, he's got Brandon Ayuk back because we've seen it far too many times now when a receiver comes back from an acl, rarely are they the same guy the very next year.

[Heath]

Oh, I mean he did what he did this season without. Are you doing anything?

[Dan]

Sure. But he. The, the number this year was 20.5. That was his average on the season.

[Heath]

Yeah, but I mean, you know, you. There's easy ways to azer status numbers to make it.

[Jamie]

Oh, big time. Yeah. But he is bad in bad weather. But he scored two points against Buffalo. He scored four points against the Rams in the rain. He was pretty good, you know, considering all the pieces that were not there.

[Heath]

Well, that's the nice thing about it is you, you know and I know their opponents have already been determined, but you know the division road games, there's only one outdoors.

[Jamie]

Right. Okay. And yeah, it'll probably be raining there though.

[Dan]

Well, one is in Seattle, so perhaps.

[Jamie]

Right. All right, so let's, let's turn our attention to the wild card games and some DFS help. And what, what are you guys like who you guys looking forward to? Like who. Who are some names that jump out at you? You're gonna tell me this after we take a commercial break. We'll be right back after this on fantasy football today with a wild card preview and some DFS tips.

[Adam]

Welcome to Nada Yada island next on Nadiata Island.

[Heath]

I knew I deserved so much more, so I left. I finally switched to Metro and got what I was looking for.

[Adam]

Get one line for only $25 a month with autopay. Just bring your phone to Metro and experience all the data you want on the largest 5G network. That's nada. Yada yada. Only at Metro By T Mobile first month is $30. Bring your number and ID offer not available if with T Mobile with Metro in the past 180 days at an enterprise level, nothing is more important than communication. Grammarly for Enterprise enables your company to work smarter and faster. Other AI tools can't quantify business impact, but Grammarly gives you actionable insights and measurable results with features like their Effective Communication Score which tracks key metrics so you can make data driven decisions to improve outcomes. Visit Grammarly.com enterprise that's Grammarly.com enterprise who.

[Jamie]

Are some players that you really want in your lineups? Jamie?

[Heath]

Well, I think you got to first determine what kind of slate you're playing. You playing the Saturday slate, the Sunday slate or the full playoff slate because that's going to determine how you approach it. So the one lineup that I've done so far, the full slate on FanDuel, which is Saturday through Monday, just to get a sample size of everybody. I really like Stafford a lot. I think he's got an opportunity based on his costs. He's one of the cheaper quarterbacks to have a big game. I know he's been terrible as a fantasy quarterback down the stretch, but we know if you can block the Vikings, you can throw on the Vikings and if they can protect him, I think the, the opportunities will be there for certainly Puka Nkua, hopefully somebody else in the receiving corps. But I like the setup for Stafford quite a bit based on his cost. Clearly if you want to spend on that position at quarterback, you can find you know, some great options here. You know, so Lamar is going to be, you know, a superstar. I think Darnold have a good game too, you know, facing the Rams defense hopefully. So yeah it's, it's an easy position to find some guys.

[Jamie]

That is interesting because I look at that Rams Rams Vikings game as a possible avoid. You know the Rams have been really good on defense lately. Forget about week 18, but I think they gave up like single digit points to four of their I have their schedule right here. They give up 14 points at the Saints. Okay, whatever. Then 44 points or 42 points to Buffalo, six points at San Francisco, nine points at the jets, nine points against Arizona. Their defense has been really good and their offense really hasn't been. They are awful in the first half. For whatever reason.

[Dan]

Stafford has single digit fantasy points in each of his last three games.

[Jamie]

Yeah, I don't know.

[Heath]

But again, we're talking, we're talking dfs. You're trying to win and be that. You know, so that's.

[Jamie]

I know, but you're also trying to win. All right. Like I was thinking, Herbert would be my. I don't know if people are going to be on him, but he's playing great and the Texans kind of stink. I don't know if people are great. I don't know what the ownership percentages are going to be.

[Heath]

There, there's, there's, there's plenty of different directions you can go. You know, you can, you can look at Russell Wilson and C.J. stroud who have been struggling and hope that they just get hot and get some of these like. You really want a Packers Cowboys game?

[Jamie]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, for sure. So. Yeah. So which games do we want to target? Or you can keep, you can keep discussing who you guys like. Go for it. It's however you want to do it.

[Dan]

The Commander's Bucks game, I think has the highest total on the weekend.

[Heath]

Yes, that's, that's going to be the most popular.

[Dan]

That's what I'm thinking too. But I, I might not mind, especially at quarterback, going with Jaden Daniels and he might be the most popular guy, but I don't think it'll be by a wide margin because people are still going to say, well, if I'm spending 7,500 for Jane Daniels and I want to be a little bit different or I want a sure thing. You know, Adam, you talked about how Josh Allen has started the playoffs with a boom every year of his career. He's 700 more on DraftKings. So you could spend up a little bit to get him. Lamar is 500 more than Jayden Daniels. Baker Mayfield is 700 less. So like you could go in any of those directions and be different. But I, I think that's the game where both defenses might go out the window and I just want big pieces of, of that offense sans Mike Evans because of the whole Lattimore thing. I just don't think, I don't know if Evans can dominate Lattimore even if, you know, short of Ladmore holding him on every other Play.

[Jamie]

Yeah, well, McMillan is only 6400.

[Heath]

Oh, he's the free space.

[Dan]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I, I actually built a lineup without him. I don't know if I like that I did that. But I did that.

[Jamie]

So three games have high over unders, 47 to 50 points. That would be Broncos Bills, but with the Broncos as heavy favorite. The Bills as heavy favorites, eight and a half points. Rams, Vikings, that game's just a one point spread, so they're expected to score about 24 points each. And Commanders Bucks have an over under a 50. Eagles packers is 45 and a half, which is really interesting given the injuries, the status of the quarterbacks. But right now they're probably going to play. Eagles are four and a half point favorites. And then you have Chargers, Texans with the lowest total, 42 and a half with the Texans as three point home underdogs. And Steelers Ravens 43 and a half point total here. But Ravens are huge favorites, nine and a half points. So the Steelers, if you buy into the Vegas lines, don't start any Steelers.

[Dan]

Is there or if you buy your eyeballs, don't start anything.

[Jamie]

Yeah, I, I, what about Bateman? I mean, is he an easier free space than McMillan?

[Heath]

No, because I think you've seen what McMillan has done and you see the defense that he's facing. You know, Bateman should have an opportunity for a good game. But we know how this Ravens offense operates and still, you know, the Steelers, I know they didn't show up how they typically show up against the Ravens in the last meeting, but this is still them for their playoff lives and trying to, you know, pull off a huge upset. So I'm not worried about Lamar and I'm not worried about Andrews, but Bateman is, I don't think he's a, he's definitely a great play, without question, but I don't think he's as, he's as easy a play as, as McMillan.

[Dan]

There are three wide receivers all in a row on DraftKings, McMillan, Mims, Bateman, 5200-500010-05000. And I guarantee you that at least one of those three will be in 75% of the lineups and maybe all three of them in a smattering of lineups because they're hot. They're in great positions to have just big games. Bateman, especially without Zay Flowers there, that you can make the case that he could just see an uptick in targets and maybe even a couple of big plays from Lamar Jackson. It's honestly, it wouldn't be that shocking to see even against the Sealers.

[Jamie]

Can you save money at running back? I feel like the only running back that's, I'm just looking at fanduel actually only running back that's kind of cheap that I would be interested in is Jalen Warren. And Fanduel is only half ppr. So I don't love that. I'm. I'm probably paying up. I'm. I'm going with Bucky Irving and Joe Mix and I look at running back and I don't, I don't mind the top guys. I probably would not go with Kyron Williams because I do respect that Vikings run defense. But Bucky Irving, like the Washington gives up like 4.9 yards per carry to running back, something crazy like that. And Mixon's been awful lately. But in bad matchups, the Tech, the Chargers are another team that's not good against the run. So I think mixing can get going again. Those are my guys on Fanduel, Bucky and Mix. And I'm not going with Henry Barkley, Kyren or Cook. Jacobs I'd be fine with, but I don't really see a way to save money really at running back. I don't know if you guys agree.

[Dan]

What do you see for J.K. dobbins?

[Jamie]

He's 70, 100. He's, he's, you know, more or less priced Brian Robinson Jr at 6, 500 is interesting, but the over the Bucks run defense has been phenomenal lately.

[Dan]

Yeah, I'm staying away from that. Like if I'm going to play Commander's running back, it'll be Eckler or not Robinson. If the Bucks, Eckler, Sheeper.

[Jamie]

If the Bucks are in a shootout, Rashad White could be a good option at 5700 on FanDuel. That's basically the same price as Jalen Warren.

[Heath]

Those are the good, cheaper options. I think Eckler's certainly worth a look based on how this game should go, but yeah, it's, it's either I think you spend up or you just kind of fall into something that you think you like. So the, the, the lineup I built does have three running backs in it. Flex with Eckler, Bucky and Dobbin, who's.

[Jamie]

The wide receiver you just need to have?

[Heath]

I mean, I, the, the one lineup I built was a Ram stack. So I put Pookin, I put Jordan.

[Dan]

Addison in my lineup. I think he's under the radar.

[Heath]

Yeah, the three receivers I went, I was kind of chalky. I went with Puka, Addison and McMillan.

[Dan]

And I, I didn't have that chance. And I have a receiver in my flex. I went with McLaurin to stack with Jayden Daniels because I'm going with Jaden Daniels. Addison I think will be under the radar. And I wonder if Dontavian Wicks gets some a lot more run and some more deep targets with. With Christian Watson sideline. It's what we've seen all season long. Why would it change now? He's cheap. And then demarcus Robinson I kind of just wedged in there. But a third receiver for the Rams against that Viking secondary. Cheap option. And Cooper cup is stunk for the last month or so and I wonder if Robinson can be a guy that starts to make some plays opposite of Buka.

[Jamie]

Oh, I thought you were going to suggest cup as a.

[Heath]

As a. Yeah, cup is a great contrarian play because I think everybody's going to be running away from him. So if you like the Rams just looking at the Vikings and how their secondary has been, then there's an opportunity there. There's going to be, you know, like the, the packers receiving core is so interesting because you wonder if the Eagles offense shows up early and they're forced to throw, then they're almost all in play. But if the game is close, then we get more of the same of the packers, which is going to make them all just tremendously difficult.

[Jamie]

Do you think the Broncos passing game will be good with Knicks? With Sutton, maybe Mims?

[Dan]

I think it's very possible.

[Heath]

I think we get, we get them chasing points. Yeah.

[Dan]

Yeah. And so like I'm. I'm just tooling around with my lineup now. I just took out Daniels and McLaurin, replace them with Bo Nix and Son. I think Bo Nix could be. He might be the under the radar quarterback that I target. Bill's pass rush is going to be awesome. But their secondary and their defense in general really has not played well to close the season. They will be chasing points. Sutton's very much involved in what they do. I kind of like it. And I freed up over a G's worth of salary to go and spend to take somebody like Robinson out of my lineup or Wicks or both. So I kind of like that. If I'm doing a tournament, if it's a cash game just trying to double my money or triple my money, I'm gonna go chalkier at quarterback than this.

[Jamie]

Okay. Anything else you want to say about this slate?

[Heath]

No, it's fine. You know, I'm gonna have a DFS stuff story on the site. It might be Sportsline. I'm not sure where they'll put it. But with good price values and bad players, bad values to avoid and some props on there too, so. Should be fun.

[Jamie]

You Like Dobbs or Tucker Kraft. We haven't talked about tight end at all, by the way. Just a real cheap tight end. Will Disley just is the guy now. He had a big game in Week 18. I know nobody was really paying attention to Week 18, but Will Disley had a big game. He seems to be back as the number one tight end. He's pretty cheap. He and tucker craft on FanDuel are the two kind of discount tight ends that I might look at. It's not a great tight end slate. You, obviously. You don't have McBride, you don't have Bowers, you don't have Kelsey. You don't have.

[Heath]

That was the one spot I spent up for was Andrews.

[Jamie]

Andrews, Yeah.

[Heath]

I mean, just again with no Zay Flowers and looking at how the Steelers have defended the position lately, you know, there's an opportunity for him to play well. I, I think Friarmouth is. Is still interesting. I know he hasn't done well against the Ravens, but you know that they're probably chasing points and he's been good overall downstretch.

[Jamie]

All right. I'm trying to get it.

[Dan]

Yeah, I'm struggling a tight end. Just looking at it right now with the Commanders. But if I'm taking the Commanders out and putting the Broncos in, I'm. I'm gonna make some changes there.

[Heath]

And just knowing the way the fantasy gods work, Dalton Kincaid will have them.

[Dan]

Oh, I know who I'm putting in. What about Isaiah? Likely, if there's no Z Flowers. There's absolutely an opportunity for him to play more. He's been a red zone threat generally all year for the Ravens. That's who I'm putting in, a tight end. And now, now look at me. I've got 6,500 to spend on. On a flex spot. I'm. I'm rolling in dough now. I can go big.

[Jamie]

How much you like McLaurin this week?

[Dan]

I like him a lot. I might put him in.

[Heath]

Yeah, if you like John Daniels, you should have to. That's. That's the easy stack. That's the obvious stack.

[Jamie]

Man. I really want to get Josh Allen in my lineup, but I just cannot figure out a way to do it. He is so expensive. But I, I calculated the fantasy points. The home opener, the playoff home opener for Josh Allen. Four games, I think four straight seasons. 36.5, 38.6, 30 and 39.5 fantasy points and six point per passing touchdown leagues. He just goes insane. But I think Baker Mayfield could also have a huge game. Oh, man. You know what's? Even harder than making a DFS lineup, picking who's gonna win these games. Let's do it. Well, just get. You want to give your lineup, I'll give my stupid lineup. I don't love it. But Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, Joe Mixon, Lad McConkey, I basically consider Lad McConkey is just a number one. He's not Puka, he's not. He's not AJ Brown. Although, you know, you worry a little bit about Brown, but he's not Nico. But he's not too far behind, so.

[Dan]

Right. And he does have the upside to be there. Yeah, we've seen that in a couple times this year.

[Jamie]

Baker, Bucky, Mixon, mcconkey, mclaurin, mcmillan. Ooh. How about that? It's the Mick. Yeah. Yeah. There we go. Mixing McConkey, McMillan and McLaurin. Flex is Romeo Dobbs. Tight end is Tucker Kraft. And I went with the Rams dst. Why did I go with the Rams dst? Yeah. Okay. I don't have any Vikings in there. That's fine. That's the one game that I'm probably concerned about that no one else is going to be concerned about is that Vikings Rams game. I don't. I would. I would probably pick the under. I don't really do a lot of betting on over unders, but those defenses are not that bad. Probably underrated defenses. So I don't really have. I don't have anyone from that game. Whereas Jamie has a. As a Ram stack. So obviously we see things very differently. What's. Give me a lineup, Jamie. What? That's a Fanduel lineup for me, by the way. What do you got?

[Heath]

Fanduel. Also, it's Stafford at quarterback, Bucky Irving and J.K. dobbins at running back, Puka, Nakua, Jordan Addison and Jalen McMillan at receiver, Mark Andrews at tight end, Eckler at flex, and the Chargers defense.

[Jamie]

Yeah, I like the Eckler call. I mean, that could be a good one. Dave, what do you got?

[Dan]

I have tooled around and landed on this bonix a quarterback. I will stack him with Cortland Sutton. My running backs are James Cook and J.K. dobbins. My wide receivers are Sutton, Jordan, Addison, Terry McLaurin, Isaiah, likely a tight end. I really love that one. Now, Keon Coleman is currently in my flex, but I've got 800 left to spend. So I could either spend up there and get rid of Keon Coleman. Just trying to be different. Bringing back the. The Broncos stack, obviously with Cook and Coleman, and I've Also, the Vikings defense. I like what you were saying about that game and how it could be lower scoring, but I could just as easily dump the Vikings and go with the Ravens and I could dump Keon Coleman and maybe get a lama day Zakias and have just as much of a unique lineup that way. And I think that's what I'm going to do. So I'm taking out Coleman. This has come back to bite me. I already feel it already. Alamode Zakia says my flex. And now I've got enough, more than enough, to put the Ravens as my defense. So Knicks Cook, dobbins, Sutton, Addison, McLaurin. Likely Olama Day Zakias in the flex. It's fun to say his name. And the Ravens dst.

[Jamie]

If this was a regular season game and the Broncos were eight and a half point dogs at the Bills, I'd probably pick the Broncos to cover that. I think they're a solid team.

[Dan]

I'm still picking the Broncos to cover.

[Heath]

Yeah, I did, too.

[Jamie]

Okay. It's a lot. But this, this. It's not going to be one of those Buffalo weather games. Not that, like, Denver doesn't have bad weather, but you know how Josh Allen just seems to. They just seem to know how to play in those conditions. It's gonna be a really good weather weekend. As of now, if you just look at our guy, Kevin Roth, every game is green. He basically said it's as ideal as it gets for Orchard park this time of year. So I don't think weather is a factor. All right, so we'll start with that game you guys are taking. Bills to win, Broncos to cover.

[Heath]

Yes.

[Dan]

Yes.

[Jamie]

I'll take Broncos to cover. Our Bills to cover. I'll take Bills with the minus eight and a half, but not, I don't, you know, not a lot of conviction there. Chargers, Texans, Chargers minus three. What do you guys think?

[Heath]

Chargers win and cover.

[Dan]

That's probably going to weigh the. Going to be the way that Eileen as well.

[Jamie]

Yeah. Yeah. All right. Okay. Yeah. Hooray. Steelers, Ravens, Ravens minus nine and a half.

[Heath]

Ravens winning cover.

[Dan]

Ravens win. Steelers cover.

[Jamie]

I agree. Could anyone see the Steelers winning this game? Because they have. Other than the last time they played.

[Dan]

Yes. They have a very good track record against Lamar Jackson. Lamar's last game against them is the best game he's had against the Steelers in his career, so he's hoping to build on that. And ultimately, you know, we've seen the Ravens melt down in their first playoff game before. I'm hoping that doesn't happen. Here. But the Steelers are definitely going to have something for Lamar to deal with and, And Derrick Henry's got to really erupt, I think. And honestly, I think that that's what they're going to do is feed Derrick Henry. This is the time of year. Remember last year, their playoff game against Kansas City? They didn't run the ball at all. They just put it all on Lamar and he was a mess and it wasn't what anybody was expecting. And this year I think they try and make amends for that and I think they've been doing that all year long and I think that's going to help carry them to a victory. But it will not be easy.

[Heath]

Ravens defense is playing so well right now. Yeah, like, I don't, I don't, I don't know if the Steelers can score.

[Jamie]

Yeah, no, it's certainly a concern. Packers Eagles. Eagles minus four and a half. What do you guys think?

[Heath]

Eagles win and cover.

[Dan]

I'm gonna agree, provided that Jalen Hurt starts and all that stuff. And that's how it's looking.

[Jamie]

I will say the Eagles win, but the packers cover and Bucks Commanders. Bucks are three point favorites on Sunday night.

[Dan]

This is my upset. Commanders win.

[Heath]

Bucks win. Commanders cover.

[Jamie]

I gotta pick some upset here, right?

[Dan]

There's only one other game left to pick if you're going to pick an upset.

[Jamie]

Yeah, I'm going to go with the. I'm going to go with the Bucks. Are the Bucks any good?

[Dan]

Definitely.

[Jamie]

I don't know that they're that good.

[Dan]

They, they, they can score points and they can get after the quarterback. The problem is they're facing a quarterback who can run like crazy. And he did it to them in his very first game as an NFL starter and he's gotten better since then.

[Jamie]

Does anybody remember week one? These two teams played.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Jamie]

37, 20. Buccaneers at home. It's a long, long time ago. Just feel like they've beaten a lot of lousy teams. They beat the. All right, all right, now they've beaten some.

[Heath]

They both have been a lot of lousy teams.

[Jamie]

They beat some good.

[Dan]

Daniels had two rushing touchdowns, 88 rushing yards. He was pretty tepid as a passer. No touchdown. 17 of 24. Austin Eckler was his best. Was the best receiver for the Commanders yardage wise. I think they just, I think they're very much a different team. But the one thing that hasn't changed is that Jane Daniels can run and he's going to do a lot of that. Now I'm talking myself into putting him Back into my stack.

[Jamie]

Most of the good wins for the Bucks were earlier this year, but, I mean, they. They started with wins against Washington at Detroit and home against Philadelphia. That's a really good. That's three of their first four games. All right, I'm gonna take the Bucks.

[Heath]

And the Commander's best win is what the Eagles without hurts. Right.

[Jamie]

I haven't looked at their schedule, but let's find out. This is important to know. I mean, that was probably their best win. I mean, they beat the Giants a couple times. Right? They beat Cincinnati on the road 38, 33. They beat the crap out of Arizona on the road. They beat. Yeah. Other than that. Kind of a bunch of cupcakes. All right, you know what I think? I think Tampa Bay, I think it's coming to pick. Coming into a clear picture for me. Tampa Bay wins and covers. Thank you, Jamie. Then I have to pick the Vikings to win, so I just. I can't pick all the favorites here. So Vikings with a win as. Oh, they're favorite. Crap. All right. I'm picking all the favorites. They're one point favorites.

[Heath]

I have the Rams winning this one.

[Jamie]

Sorry.

[Dan]

Yeah, I think they want you to take the Vikings.

[Jamie]

They want you. They have an algorithm, Dave.

[Dan]

Sure. Right.

[Jamie]

They do.

[Dan]

Okay.

[Jamie]

They don't. Oh, this is the public. I want the public to take it. No, they have a. They have a bunch of nerds.

[Dan]

Listen for the majority of lines that they put out. They try and put something competitive so that they get 50 on one side, 50 on the other side. Yeah, but there are some. I've been picking games for basically the last 15 years. There are some games where they want you on one side. I. I cannot be convinced otherwise of this.

[Jamie]

Okay.

[Dan]

And I've been told that they do this, but why is it that they don't do this? Like, just now? Do you. Do you think that Matthew Stafford has four passing touchdowns again?

[Jamie]

No.

[Dan]

Like he did in week eight. That week eight game was so pivotal for the Rams. They were two and four going into it. They ran the ball. Okay. And it was a short week game. Stafford threw four touchdowns. Cup was good. DeMarcus Robinson went off. If he can do that again. Sean McVeigh just has the magic number against his former coaches, then. Yeah, I think that. I think that they're the side to be on.

[Jamie]

Schaefer, how you feeling about it? Not good. It kind of reminds me of the Giants Vikings game from a couple years ago where we were a small favorite. And it's kind of what Dave said. They Want you to take the Vikings, but then the Giants end up winning that game two years ago, I think it was, so. Oh, yeah. Not good. Okay.

[Heath]

This is, this is a 40 million dollar a year game for Sam Donald.

[Jamie]

Yeah. It's a big game for him. Absolutely. Okay. I think they just have more talent than the Rams, but there's a reason why it's a one point spread. Right. It's. It's a close. It's a tough game to pick. I, you know, try to get the bad taste out of your mouth if you're, if you are picking the Vikings. I know the last time that we saw them, they look like crap, but don't want to necessarily just base it on the last time you saw them.

[Heath]

The thing that got exposed in that game, and it's kind of been a little bit of a problem for the second half of the season, is the offensive line was a disaster. And when the offensive line is a disaster, Sam Darnold is a disaster. And so you're going to see Jared Verse on Cam Robinson a lot. And we're going to see if the defensive rookie of the year against a struggling left tackle determines this game. And it might.

[Dan]

How many sacks did the Rams have of Sam Darnold in week eight? 14.

[Jamie]

14. No. 18 sacks. They set a record.

[Dan]

No. 3. You know how many sacks the Vikings had of Matthew Stafford?

[Jamie]

16 to 40. 41. They've set a record.

[Dan]

0. They did not sack Matthew Stafford even one time.

[Jamie]

I was too high, I think a little bit.

[Dan]

I said sacks, not point.

[Jamie]

All right, we're out of here, everybody. Enjoy the games and we'll talk to you Monday on Fantasy Football.

[Heath]

Today, Paramount podcast tests Paramount plus is.

[Dave]

Your home for the UEFA Champions League Magnificent. And this season is bigger, better, bolder than ever. That was special. With more epic matchups, momentous and historic. And more moments from soccer's iconic stars.

[Dan]

What a goal, what a player.

[Dave]

The UEFA Champions League.

[Dan]

Stream every match live exclusively on Paramount plus, the stuff of absolute dreams.